karatecatman wrote:

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Indian is to start India-London with Airbus by summer 2007 (not clear which type. As usual the media has bungled). The aircraft are 2-class; 275 economy and 25 business.

See the interview with IA MD Vishwapathi Trived in the "Analysis, Opinion, Interview" section (Aug 11, 2006)  

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Tell me there are other cities in the world than London please.

As I said earlier, please have a look at the interview.

Am quoting from there. So, .... 

Dude i had heard from an IC pilot tht the had got slots at LGW. So I am assuming they'd be going there.

karatecatman wrote:

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But what's the news about the aircraft? A330 or A340?

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The LGW was old news basically heard tht in Jan...dont know bout aircrafts..although i think he mentioned 330 but cant be sure

the_380 wrote:

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Ur right they are planning to operate a frequency of 4 days a week. They didnt get slots at LHR

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as somebody mentioned, its time India's carrier get over the fixation about UK.  What all possible hubs can they operate in Europe and get substantial yields.  One of the underserved seems to be AMS.  Does the current bilateral allow additional flights?

And how about look east policy?  Will the additional flights to PVG or PEK make sense?  What is the bilateral with them like? And if they are that particular about Desi travellers, then how about YVR?  Can anybody update about any upcoming bilateral meeting esp eastern hubs like HKG etc?

rgds

VT-ASJ

So with AI already flying to LHR and IC starting flights to LGW.So this won't hurt either side after the merger and they won't compete against each other.Many carriers like Emirates fly to both LHR and LGW.I hope IC really starts flying to LGW.

I agree with Aseem, there should be more flights to China, HKG, West Coast USA. I feel AMS, CDG, Rome, IAH, ATL should have flights from India. I am referring to Indian carriers.

Also about time they thought of starting flights to Aus.

 

Off topic but does anyone know when 9W get their next widebody and what they plan to do with it?

The seach is over.

Here it is:

Indian finalises lease of two A-330s
Ashwini Phadnis

Flights to destinations in Europe and Far East likely 

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The Airbus A-330 aircraft would seat more than 270 in both the economy and business class, thereby making it the largest aircraft present in the fleet.
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New Delhi , Aug. 20

Indian could soon be winging its way to London, more cities in the Far East and even Australia.

The State-owned airlines has finalised an agreement for lease of two Airbus A-330 aircraft that will be capable of operating flights from India to destinations in Europe, Far East and beyond.

Expansion of services

"The two aircraft being leased from a French company are five years old and would be utilised to operate flights to international destinations in Europe and expand our services to existing and new destinations in the Far East. The routes on which the aircraft are to be deployed are yet to be firmed up," official sources told Business Line.

The Government has already designated Indian to operate flights to Australia, the UK and the US. Besides, the airline has received permission to commence operations to the UK.

However, the lack of proper equipment capable of flying non-stop between India and Europe has hampered the efforts of the airline to start regular flights there.

At present, Indian operates regular flights to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal and several cities in the Gulf region mostly utilising the 145-seater Airbus A-320 aircraft. The Airbus A-330 aircraft being leased by Indian would be able to seat more than 270 passengers in both economy and business class, thereby making it the largest aircraft present in the airline fleet.

The aircraft is equipped with multi-channel audio and video systems as well as other equipment that would show the route that the flight is taking.

The airline was looking at Airbus A 310-300, A-330 and A-340, apart from Boeing 767 Extended Range and B-777, before shortlisting the A-330.

Currently, the only Indian carrier operating the Airbus A-330 is Jet Airways that is utilising the aircraft to operate the Amritsar-London flight.

 

 

 

 

Will look really nice in the new colours. Pity the old logo is out. Would have still looked great. 

 

(Copyright cardatabase --Raghu211, RP Abraham)
 

 

-- Edited by karatecatman at 08:48, 2006-08-21

I am glad they did not lease A-310s.

The A330s would give them a nice range to operate flights to Europe & Far East.